GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Nelly Korda missed her second straight after winning six of seven events. She met Friday but fell one stroke short of advancing to weekend play in the Meijer LPGA Classic.
The top-ranked Korda followed an opening 4-over 76 in windy conditions with a 67 on Thursday to move to 1-under at Blythefield Country Club, where she won in 2021 at a tournament record 25 under.
“I didn’t play that bad,” Korda said. “Just a tough week.”
Ally Ewing and Grace Kim shared the lead at 11 under 133. Eighty-one players advanced at 2 under or better.
Ewing had a 63. She chipped for Eagle on the par-5 eighth and closed with consecutive birdies.
“That was just pretty steady golf,” Ewing said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well… until I roll in a few putts.”
Kim shot 65. On her front nine, the Australian recovered from a bogey on the par-4 17th with an eagle on the par-5 18th.
“It was obvious that the wind was bothering me yesterday,” Kim said. “But I was a good 4 under and then took my chances today from the start time in the morning.
Two weeks after making a 10 on a hole in a first-round 80 at the U.S. Women’s Open in Pennsylvania, Korda opened the double bogey-bogey-bogey in high winds on Thursday afternoon. She started Friday tied for 133rd – 11 strokes behind leader Alison Lee in the first round.
“It was just course management with the wind yesterday,” Korda said. “I just couldn’t play well. Overall, I hit the ball well.”
Starting at No. 10 in her morning round, Korda birdied the first three holes and four of the first five. She bogeyed the 17th and added two birdies on her back nine.
“I was just making long putts,” Korda said. “Chipped on No. 2. Made a long putt on 1. Made a long putt on 3. Three-putted on 8. Completely knocked my momentum down.”
She capped a record run of five straight wins with a big win at the Chevron Championship, then finished tied for seventh in the Founders Cup before winning the Mizuho Americas Open ahead of the US Women’s Open. After the break this week, she heads to the Seattle area for the big KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Sahalee.
“I’m really pleased with the way I hit the ball off the tee today, which is something I’ve struggled with this year,” Korda said. “This was by far the best I’ve ever made off the tee, so a bit of positivity goes to KPMG.”
Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark and Narin An of South Korea tied for third place at 9 under. Koerstz Madsen had a 64 and An shot 68.
Brooke Henderson, the Canadian who won the event in 2017 and 2019, shot a 69 to lead the group at 8 under. She played the first two days together with Korda and defending champion Leona Maguire.
“It was much milder and not as windy,” said Henderson. “I wish I could have taken advantage of a few birdie opportunities a little more. At the same time happy with 3 under and excited to play the weekend.”
The Americans Allisen Corpuz (68) and Lauren Hartlage (69) were also 8 under, together with the Chinese Jing Yan (68) and the South Korean Jin Hee Im (65).
Lee was in 10th place at 7 under. She followed her opening 65 with a 72 and made five birdies and five bogeys.
Maguire was in 48th place at 3 under after a 69.
Lilia Vu, a former No. 1 player and double major winner last year, was ranked 25th at 5 under in her return from a back injury that has sidelined her since the Ford Championship in Arizona in late March. She followed an opening 69 with a 70.
Lexi Thompson, the 2015 winner, was also 5 under and scored a 68. She hasn’t won in more than five years. Thompson has said this will be her last year with a full schedule.
“I hit a lot of great shots there and made some good birdies, especially coming in.” said Thompson. “So the positives are going into the weekend.”
